"Why Praise?"

"Sing unto God, sing praises to his name: extol him that rideth upon the heavens by his name Jah, and rejoice before him."  Psalm 68:4

 

One of the mistakes we make is in the area of "praising" the Lord.  We think we have to have good reason to praise Him.  He has had to performed some great miracle, He had to answer some prayer in the affirmative, we have to feel like it or our emotions have to line up in order for us to praise the Lord.  If you wait for all the "right conditions" to praise Him.... you never will.

 

Life doesn't always give you something to "praise" the Lord about.  It gives you plenty of reasons not to.  It works on your mind, your emotions, through your circumstances, and so on.  And if we listen to them, or are led by them, we will withhold our praise from the Lord.

 

The reason we praise Him is because He is worthy of it-- plain and simple.  He is worthy of praise when things are going well and when things are not so well.  He is worthy of our praise when life isn't treating us very well and when everything is wonderful.  He is worthy of our praise when we have all our needs met and when we are in lack and want.  He is worthy to be praised when things don't turn out like we had hoped and when they do. 

 

Praising the Lord is not an "emotional" thing.  (Although our emotions might become involved.)  Praise is a "faith" thing.  We praise Him by faith even when we don't feel like it.  Praise is an "honor" thing.  We praise Him because He deserves this honor.

 

Are you withholding your praise because you don't "feel" like praising Him?  Are you withholding your praise because you don't think you have anything to praise Him for?  Are you holding back your praise waiting for some great miracle to happen and then you will praise Him?  If so, you need to change your way of thinking about praise.  You praise Him because He is worthy and deserves the praise.... Period!

 

Have a great day.  The reason we praise the Lord is because He is worthy of it.